Jan. 18, ROHTAK, India (Reuters) - In the northern Indian state of Haryana, thousands of men lined up for a recruiting drive aimed at sending laborers to Israel, where a labor shortage has resulted from the Gaza offensive, which is in its fourth month.

Craftspeople such as masons, painters, electricians, plumbers, and farmers expressed their desire to work in Israel, with some even prepared to take the chance of entering a conflict area in order to earn five times as much as they would back home.

A mason named Lekharam was among the workers gathering at a recruitment camp in Rohtak, 66 km (40 miles) from the capital, New Delhi. "There is unemployment here and it's because of it that people want to leave," he said.

"We can pass away here or there if death is part of our destiny. My dream is that we'll leave, work hard, take our time, and then return."

With 1.4 billion people, India is currently the most populated country in the world. Government statistics indicate that the urban unemployment rate in the country is 6.6%, while over 17% of workers under the age of 29 are unemployed, and others work as casual labor.

Despite globally unparalleled economic growth of 7.3%, authorities remain concerned about underemployment and unemployment.
A spokesman for the Indian foreign ministry claimed on Thursday that a labor mobility deal with Israel had been inked before to the conflict's outbreak last year.
The spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, stated, "The idea behind this agreement was to put in place an institutional mechanism to regulate migration and ensure people's rights are protected."

"The safety of workers abroad is given priority by Israel's stringent labor rules. 70,000 foreign laborers, mostly from China and India, are expected to be brought in as part of plans to boost the construction industry following the attack by Hamas terrorists on October 7. For employment prospects in Israel, the National Skills Development Corporation in India has been recruiting. Some others, such as 28-year-old mason Vivek Sharma, are willing to accept the danger of confrontation in exchange for greater pay."

Although Sharma is aware of the hazards associated with violence, he believes that there is a chance to make over a million Indian rupees ($12,000) in a year in Israel—a accomplishment that may take five years in India. A recent agreement permits about 40,000 Indians to work in Israel, mostly in the construction and nursing industries. Approximately 13 million Indians are employed overseas."